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You might see more than crowds of shoppers in Newcastle city centre if you’re out and about on Saturday as the World Naked Bike Ride is coming to Tyneside.

The globally known event is heading to these parts for the Newcastle/Gateshead leg, having already called in to many other places in the UK including Bristol, Cardiff and Manchester.

According to its Facebook page, the free annual mass ride which takes place in over 50 cities around the planet is all about celebrating bikes, bodies and low-impact living; highlighting the vulnerability of cyclists and our strength and safety in numbers and protesting against fossil-fueled climate change and the dominance of our streets by cars.

The Tyneside leg will get going at 1.45pm on Saturday, with cyclists setting off from Northumberland Road, near City Hall, before riding right through the town, past the likes of Monument and the Bigg Market before finishing at Sage Gateshead.

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If you’re thinking about taking part you don’t need to sign up, you just need to abide by a few rules.

Here are a few bare necessities from the World Naked Bike Ride Facebook page...

Keep the peace

‘Remember that this is a peaceful protest / demonstration which welcomes all cyclists who wish to help in conveying a deeply important message. You attend at your own choosing to protest and you come as a ‘protester’ responsible for your own safety and conduct.

'It’s recommended that you bring a fully charged mobile phone, a basic first aid kit, some money and do tell someone what you are doing in case you have a problem.’

Crack the Code

‘Secondly, you MUST obey EVERY aspect of the Highway Code INCLUDING stopping at all red traffic lights or giving way to pedestrians in shared areas. In Newcastle - Gateshead our stewards DO NOT have authority to stop traffic at junctions and neither will the police.

‘You must cycle carefully and to the letter of the law. If you need to get off your bike and push due to a hill or through crowded pedestrian area do so for your and other’s safety.

Dress/undress to impress

‘Thirdly, nudity in this context is legal in England where we are using the naked human body to demonstrate the vulnerability against several tonnes of vehicle. You do not have to be naked.

‘The dress code is ‘as bare as you dare’ which includes Fully Clothed or Fancy Dress. For the total avoidance of doubt and forgive the bluntness of this we are using the naked body in a totally non-sexual way, so you are expected to act appropriately.

If you think anything you are contemplating might be inappropriate it probably will be. Police will act on any complaints received regarding lewd or inappropriate behaviour.’

One for the lads

‘Without wishing to labour the point gents, spectators are not interested in your private parts and won’t notice you among hundreds of others.

‘This is based on problems experienced at other rides and the desire to not detract at all from the key messages we are trying to promote - that of creating safer cycling conditions and an end to the increasing dominance of the motor vehicle in our cities.

Show some respect

‘Fourthly, there will be a two minute silence during the ride, where we will stop on the ride route, lay down our cycles and stand silently head bowed, hands folded in front - as if you are looking down on the rider who was killed lying on the road in front of you.’